Small Fields

There are 3 jumps meetings in the U.K. today, but with some small fields, especially at Huntingdon, where there are 4 races with only 4 runners each. They include today´s main event, the listed Sidney Banks Memorial for novice hurdlers at 16.50 CET. They are all moving up in grade and it is quite tricky. Different Gravey (Nicky Henderson/ Barry Geraghty) finished in front of Brother Tedd (Philip Hobbs/ Richard Johnson) at Cheltenham at New Year, but not by far and is now 4 lbs worse off, so there could be little between them. We prefer Kylemoire Lough (Richard Lee/ Charlie Poste), who is unbeaten since moving here and running over sticks; he looks greatly improved and can improve again past these. AP McCoy is here for just one ride, Alex Hales´ Valiant Creek, who has top weight in the handicap hurdle at 17.55. He ran badly last time, but if back to form, must have decent prospscts here; his trainer has another good chance with Ultimatum du Roy (Noel Fehily) at 15.40, who won easily enlough over this Cd last time. We also like Polo (Venetia Williams/ Aidan Coleman) in the opener at 15.10; he has a German pedigree and Need not be anything special to beat these modest opponents.

The cards at Musselburgh and Sedgefield are very low level, but we notice that Donald McCain, Brian Ellison and Dianne Sayer have runners at both meetings, and could well be among the winners.

The fields are bigger at the Irish meeting at Clonmel, but this is mainly a question of quantity rather than quality. The best race is the opening hurdle at 14.45, where Willie Mullins saddles 3 of the 8 runners, with Ruby Walsh on Aklan, runner-up in a similar event last time. Our preference is for Killer Crow, who is ridden by Gigginstown´s retained jockey Bryan Cooper; he had no chance in a Grade Two race last time, but the form of his earlier maiden win has worked out well.

Obviously the Meydan card is by far the best of the day and the main feature here is the Group Two Balanchine for fillies and mares over 9 furlongs on turf at 18.40. 7 of the 9 runners met in the Cape Verdi over a mile here 3 weeks ago, with German-owned Cladocera (Alain de Royer-Dupre/ Christophe Soumillon) running out an easy winner. She has a small penalty now but can score again.